9/11 vets

[Sgt. Rock]

We all remember where we were when the Towers fell.

I was listening to IMUS IN THE MORNING and just pulled into the car wash with my patrol car. The attendant said that a plane just flew into one of the Towers. I figured that it was a tourist pilot who got too close. THEN, the second plane hit. We all knew what was happening.

I headed to the barracks. We had a staff meeting. Our first SWAT team would go to NYC on 9/12 and my team would go on 9/13 so we we still had local coverage. The NYPD had too much help, so my team never went.

The Chief knew that I would be called to Active Duty, so plans were made. he sent me home early on 9/12. I got my wife set up and ready for what we knew was on the way. I was a PSC ( Chief PortSecurityman / USCGR) stationed in NYC!

I got the call that night and reported with my team of Port Securitymen (all E-6) on the next day. I remember the call..."You guys are all cops...bring your own guns...the armory doesn't have enough for everybody we expect.) We reported to Ft. Wadsworth on 9/14.

Two weeks in NYC then 6 months Base Security at Sandy Hook. At least I got to go home most nights (or days). I retired with 21 years in 2007.

I watched the NYFD carry a flag covered litter out of the rubble (one was enough!). I still can't watch the 9/11 Tributes and name list they have every Sept 11.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!

That's my story. What's yours?

 

[flyboysgt]

Damn....that is touching. Thank you for your service and sacrifices. Same goes to all others who have served that will post in this thread.

I was a sophomore in high school. My class and I were in the library at the time doing research for book reports. I remember looking up at the tv they had on, seeing a tower burning. Next thing we knew, we saw the second plane hit. My heart dropped. I thought it was fake and maybe they had a movie on. At the time, I didn't know what the World Trade Center was. Later that afternoon we had heard about flight 93 and the pentagon. Fast forward to 2006 (2 years after graduation), I was fed up with what was still going on. My buddy convinced me to join the USAF with him. Going on 10 years later, 6 deployments, and countless tdys, I am still here.

 

[Knight Runner]

9/11

Sitting on a plane, on the runway preparing to take off for Mexico at the first impact. Needless to say we did not get there. And dying inside because I could not get into the fight.

None ever forgotten.

LT. Delta

 

[Sisente]

I had just given my two weeks notice at Brooke Army Medical Center. and was given the two weeks off. Working in IT, that is the norm. I had just gotten out of the army after 8 years, two years before, and BAMC was my second civilian job. I remember sitting on the couch wondering if I would get called back up. I was pretty sure not, since I had completed my 8 year commitment, but part of me was still wondering.

 

[4RnR Grl]

I was a Marine Security Guard stationed at the Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany. I had just come on post for my 8 hour shift.

A former employee called me at post who was stateside. He told me a plane had hit the first tower. I called the Detachment Commander and the Marines were put on lock down. The employee called several more times, telling of the consecutive downed planes. All I had was a German radio station... for 8 hours. No TV.

When I got off post I went to the Marine house where it was quiet. It was evident that the remainder of the detachment had spent the majority of the day in the TV room. The TV was still on. I sat down and watched for the first time what had transpired earlier in the day. Some of the footage that aired that day I never saw until they ran it again at the ten year anniversary. I remember wondering why I'd never seen some of it. I still have a German magazine packed away that was published soon after the incident. It is filled with photos from that day, completely in German.

 

[sntryplt]

Running current operations and working to manage training flow for the 552nd at Tinker. It was a gorgeous day in Oklahoma--We had just launched an aircraft for the east coast. After the impacts, we activated the battle cab and I spent the rest of the day coordinating E-3 launches with NORAD, among other things. Had one of the screens in command post tuned to CNN--got to watch the carnage multiple times. Never forget

 

[Sgt. Rock]

I was a Marine Security Guard stationed at the Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany. I had just come on post for my 8 hour shift.

A former employee called me at post who was stateside. He told me a plane had hit the first tower. I called the Detachment Commander and the Marines were put on lock down. The employee called several more times, telling of the consecutive downed planes. All I had was a German radio station... for 8 hours. No TV.

When I got off post I went to the Marine house where it was quiet. It was evident that the remainder of the detachment had spent the majority of the day in the TV room. The TV was still on. I sat down and watched for the first time what had transpired earlier in the day. Some of the footage that aired that day I never saw until they ran it again at the ten year anniversary. I remember wondering why I'd never seen some of it. I still have a German magazine packed away that was published soon after the incident. It is filled with photos from that day, completely in German.

We probably had some of the same thoughts during those first days....What might be coming? Will there be more attacks on US installations? Semper Fi!

 

[Sgt. Rock]

I was a Marine Security Guard stationed at the Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany. I had just come on post for my 8 hour shift.

A former employee called me at post who was stateside. He told me a plane had hit the first tower. I called the Detachment Commander and the Marines were put on lock down. The employee called several more times, telling of the consecutive downed planes. All I had was a German radio station... for 8 hours. No TV.

When I got off post I went to the Marine house where it was quiet. It was evident that the remainder of the detachment had spent the majority of the day in the TV room. The TV was still on. I sat down and watched for the first time what had transpired earlier in the day. Some of the footage that aired that day I never saw until they ran it again at the ten year anniversary. I remember wondering why I'd never seen some of it. I still have a German magazine packed away that was published soon after the incident. It is filled with photos from that day, completely in German.

There are so many serving in combat areas that weren't even in kindergarten when the Towers fell. You guys are still fighting the war OBL and friends started. You are the ones making the sacrifices. Men and women still defending democracy all these years later. Like I said, I got to sleep at home most of the time. You deserve the thanks. You are the REAL vets!

 

[3wbdriver]

I served during an earlier time, but was a civilian contractor at Fort Polk the morning it happened. We were informed by a coworker who had a radio in his work area when the first reports came in about the first plane hitting. It was a tense and sad day. Needless to say we didn't get a lot of work done that day.

I would like to salute all of you younger generation folks who rose to the call and served over the last 14 years. As far as I am concerned - and I in no way am belittling their service - your generation has had it harder than our Vietnam veterans did. With the deployment schedule the armed services have had to do at our reduced manning levels I have known entirely too many young soldiers who have had to do multiple deployments with no real decompression time between them.

For those who have stayed enlisted for more than one term you have my heartfelt gratitude for staying the course. I am honored to be in your presence.

 

[Inferno1]

I came in just after 9/11 and still serving. Wife but then gf was at Tinker on E3s and the time whereas I got there around mid 2002.

First deployment was the invasion of Iraq and now just got back from deployment number 13 which a so was to Iraq

Wife is a combat wounded and disable veteran now so she's out.

Heard horror stories about how life on a base was during 9/11

 

[ShōyōRunnå]

I was a sophomore in HS when the towers fell. I had just turned 16 a couple days earlier and was so eager to showoff my "new to me" t-100 to my buddies. When I got to school everyone was crying with CNN being broadcasted on all tvs. I joined the army right after I graduated in 2004 and been in ever since. Going on 12 years now.

ATW!

 

[Joaco10SR5]

Was a soldier at Ft. Bragg, NC just getting back from breakfast after the morning PT when the first plane hit. By the end of the first day was getting the CH-47s aircraft ready in case we get call and we did a few days later to transport some of the bodies from the Pentagon rubble. I didn't go on that mission but my unit did spend a week or so doing that. Later in August 2002 our unit was sent to Bagram, AB Afghanistan for OEF2 6 month deployment..
Retired with 21yrs in the US Army on Sep 03.

 

[DAGNABIT]

I was bee boppin into my local gym because I was on my 2nd day of terminal leave.... needless to say I was recalled and didn't get out of the Marine Corps as planned lol YUT. I still love nothing more than pink mist spraying from hadjis head!

 

[blacksheep4]

I was in high school and of course will never forget watching the second plane hit on TV. But my strongest 9/11 memory happened just about a month ago.

I currently serve in The Old Guard in Arlington where we recently did a general officer's retirement ceremony, as we do often. After the ceremony I was standing out back BSing with some other guys in uniform when we were approached by a NYC firefighter in his uniform, I guess he was a guest of the GO. He told us he was trapped under debris of the towers on 9/11. His eyes started to well up as he described telling us that when he heard the fighter jets on station above him he knew that "we were going to get the sons of *****es that had done this." He looked each of us in the eye and shook our hand with the most sincere "thank you for your service" I've ever received, something I'll never forget.

Guys like him are the true heroes of that day, and I was honored just to meet him. I'll be participating at the 9/11 remembrance ceremony at the Pentagon tomorrow and hope to meet more first responders like him.

 

[TheSentinel]

Was a soldier at Ft. Bragg, NC just getting back from breakfast after the morning PT when the first plane hit. By the end of the first day was getting the CH-47s aircraft ready in case we get call and we did a few days later to transport some of the bodies from the Pentagon rubble. I didn't go on that mission but my unit did spend a week or so doing that. Later in August 2002 our unit was sent to Bagram, AB Afghanistan for OEF2 6 month deployment..
Retired with 21yrs in the US Army on Sep 03.

I too was at Bragg on 9/11 working in my commo shop off of Yadkin Rd. I was in the 307th Engineers (82nd ABN then). I was about 3 months out of jump school at that point. We started packing for deployment preparation right away. Though all of us in the shop were deployed at one point, I didn't get my chance until 2003. I'm still in the reserves.

 

[Antman]

[MENTION=42734]Kraeken[/MENTION]

Ted^^^ is a friend and a true hero in my book- NYC Firefighter.


He's still dealing with long term effects from 911.
Don't know if he cares to share but he has my respect and thanks, sincerely.

 

[4FL]

Was in the Navy, just got back from the gym and galley, and stepped out of the shower getting dressed when heard the report of the first plane hitting on the radio. I did not think anything of it, picturing a small Cessna or something, the report came over like an accident, not an attack.

I was driving down to the pier listening to the radio when it became very apparent what was going on. When I got to my boat, it was still just unverified rumors at that point but it seemed with a half hour the impact was there, with the TV turned on, and official communications coming in, along with the new urgency of getting the boat back together and deployed immediately.

 

[Flighht2k]

Was on my first deployment when it happened. Then was caught up in the invasion of Iraq.

 

[Gabex35]

I was in boot camp at MCRD San Diego. We chocked it up to being the "you guys are going to war" joke but quickly became real when the senior took a recruit into the duty hutch to confirm. We were ready to get into the fight for sure.

 

[Kraeken]

I'm not a vet, but this first pic is me on the right, with my helmet off. This was about 9pm on the 11th. It was the first time all day we were reasonably sure we weren't going to be killed by something collapsing or falling off a building.

The second pic is the company I worked in when I first got on the job. I was at Ground Zero the night we found the rig. Its heartbreaking to say the least.